Mixed reactions to Dravid's selection

Veteran Rahul Dravid's ODI return has evoked mixed reactions from former players, with some of them calling it a step backwards.

The 36-year-old Dravid, who played the last of his 333 ODIs way back in October 2007, has been included in India's 15-member team for the September 8-15 tri-series in Sri Lanka and the September 22-October 5 Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Former India opener Chetan Chauhan did not find any logic behind the decision and said it was a retrograde step by the selectors, who otherwise have been batting for youth in the national team.

"I definitely feel it's a backward step. I feel he should not have been in the (Champions Trophy) probables list in the first place," he said.

Chauhan was of the view that dropping Dravid from the ODI squad two years ago was a mistake and his reinstatement is equally ill-conceived.

"First of all, it was a mistake to drop Rahul two years back. But once he was selected in the long list (for Champions Trophy), the selectors were bound to pick him in the squad. It would have been an insult if he was dropped after being picked in the probables' list," Chauhan said.

The selectors felt Dravid's presence would bolster the top order which is missing Virender Sehwag, besides adding beef to the middle order which tends to crumble against the short-pitched stuff.

Chauhan insisted the selectors should have reposed faith in the youngsters, instead of bringing Dravid back.

"You cannot drop a youngster for one or two failures. You have to support them. Some of the players have really done well in the recent past," he said.

Former India pacer Madan Lal said Dravid's return did not surprise him since he was named in the long list for the Champions Trophy.

"I knew that once the selectors had named him among the probables, they will pick him in the squad. But my question is why was Rahul dropped two years back and on what grounds?" he said.

Madan felt Dravid's inclusion would strengthen the side but he refused to buy the theory that his comeback was necessitated by the younger players' vulnerability against rising deliveries.

"If they have picked Dravid keeping that in mind, it's an excuse. But Dravid's inclusion has added solidity to India's line-up," Madan said.

"He is a quality player. But I am surprised that suddenly the selectors woke up to the fact that the youngsters are not good at tackling short deliveries," he said.

Former selection committee chief Kiran More, meanwhile, hailed Dravid's comeback and said it would allow captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to play with more freedom.

"Rahul is a proven match-winner and is still good enough for the one-dayers. He is a classy batsman and his inclusion gives a balance to the side. To me, it's not at all surprising that the selectors have included him in the ODI side," More said.

"Yuvraj (Singh) and Dhoni have been doing well in the middle order and Rahul's inclusion will add more balance and stability to the batting line-up. Rahul is known to hold on at one end and it will only reduce the burden on Dhoni, who of late has transformed more into a sheet-anchor," he explained.